Process and apparatus for depositing products in a defined manner from a compartment-containing chain

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for depositing products in a defined manner, from a compartment-containing chain ( 3 ), onto a receiving means or into a shaft ( 9 ), the compartment-containing chain ( 3 ) having laterally open compartments ( 7 ) which are formed by parallel intermediate walls ( 5 ) and are intended for accommodating laterally projecting products ( 1 ).  
     The core of the invention is that a pushing device ( 12 ), which intercepts a plurality of products ( 1 ), is moved out of a starting position parallel to the conveying chain ( 3 ) and, at the same time, in the pushing-out direction and then back into the starting position again (FIG.  2 ).

DESCRIPTION

[0001] The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for depositing products in a defined manner, from a compartment-containing chain, onto a conveying section which have the features of the preambles of claims 1 and 2.

[0002] Using a compartment-containing chain for depositing products, for example hygiene products, is known from WO 99/18019. The compartment-containing chain comprises a transporting belt, which circulates endlessly around deflecting rollers, and has compartments which are formed by parallel intermediate walls and serve for accommodating, for example, laterally proJecting products. An ejecting element is provided for depositing the products and can be moved transversely to the movement direction of the filled compartment-containing chain, the laterally projecting borders of the products being intercepted and pushed out of the compartment-containing chain. In this case, they slide, for example, onto a receiving means or into a shaft and are then transported further in order, finally, to be packaged.

[0003] The object of the invention is to provide measures in order for it to be possible not just for such a compartment-containing chain to be filled very quickly with individual products at one of its deflecting locations, but also to be emptied again in the depositing region, a plurality of products in each case being combined there, at the same time, to form a stack. This depositing operation, furthermore, takes place within narrow, spatial limits and, for this reason, has to take place extremely quickly.

[0004] In order to achieve this object, the invention provides that a pushing device, which intercepts a plurality of products, is moved out of a starting position parallel to the compartment-containing chain and, at the same time, in the pushing-out direction and then back into the starting position again.

[0005] The ejecting element or elements provided according to the invention move not just in the ejecting direction, but also transversely thereto, during the ejecting operation. Movements in the direction of the conveying chain and in the ejecting direction are thus superposed. This makes it possible for the ejecting element or elements to intercept a precisely defined number of products and to push them securely and reliably onto a receiving means or into a shaft.

[0006] Further features of the invention can be gathered from subclaims and from the description in conjunction with the drawing.

[0007] The invention is described in more detail hereinbelow with reference to an exemplary embodiment which is illustrated in the drawing, in which:

[0008]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the compartment-containing chain and of the apparatus for ejecting the products into a shaft, and

[0009]FIG. 2 shows, on a larger scale, a cut-away perspective view of the ejecting apparatus.

[0010] An apparatus for producing products, in particular hygiene products 1, this apparatus not being illustrated in the figures, comprises a station 2 which serves for packaging purposes and, inter alia, has a compartment-containing chain 3. The compartment-containing chain comprises a belt 4 with compartment-forming intermediate walls 5. The compartment-containing chain 3 runs around deflecting rollers 6, in which case the intermediate walls 5 open in a wedge-shaped manner. At one of the deflecting rollers 6, in each case one product is pushed into the opening compartment 7 and then pivoted in the transporting direction of the compartment-containing chain 3. The products 1 are transported in a hanging position, and in a state in which they are clamped in between the intermediate walls 5, into a depositing region 8, which, according to the exemplary embodiment, is defined by a shaft 9. The shaft 9 has its longitudinal axis extending transversely to the transporting direction of the part 10 of the compartment-containing chain 3, said part 10 being filled with products 1.

[0011] In the laterally open compartments 7, the products 1 project likewise laterally beyond the compartments, as is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. This makes it possible for the products 1 to be pressed downward out of the compartments 7 with the aid of ejecting elements 11.

[0012] Each ejecting element is of such a width that a plurality of products, not just a single product, can be pushed out of compartments 7 at the same time.

[0013] The shaft 9, which extends transversely to the movement direction of the part 10 of the compartment-containing chain 3, is located beneath the compartment-containing chain 3, with the result that the products slide out of the compartment-containing chain 3 into the shaft 9 on account of the gravitational force.

[0014] The apparatus for pushing the products 1 out of the compartment-containing chain 3 comprises a pushing device 12 with the ejecting elements 11 arranged on both sides of the belt 4. During the pushing-out or ejecting operation, the cross-sectionally I-shaped ejecting elements 11 press onto those borders of the products 1 which project laterally out of the compartments 7.

[0015] The pushing device 12 intercepts a plurality of products 1 and can be moved out of a starting position parallel to the conveying chain 3 and, at the same time, in the pushing-out direction and then back into the starting position again (FIG. 2).

[0016] The ejecting elements 11 can be moved along two guide rods 13 and 14 parallel to the conveying chain 3 or the part 10 of the latter which bears the products 1. The guide rods 13 and 14, for their part, are arranged on a carrier 15 which, for its part, can be moved in the ejecting direction along two guide rods 16 and 17. This makes it possible for the pushing device 12, which intercepts a plurality of products 1, to be moved out of its starting position parallel to the conveying chain 3 and, at the same time, in the pushing-out direction and then back into the starting position again.

[0017] The lifting movements of the carrier 15 are achieved with the aid of a connecting rod 18, which is articulated, on the one hand, on the carrier 15 and, on the other hand, on an arm 19 of a drive (not illustrated). The arm 19 has a compensating and balance weight 20. Together, these parts form a connecting-rod drive 21.

[0018] The movements of the pushing device 12 which take place parallel to the compartment-conveying chain 3 are achieved with the aid of a belt drive 22. This comprises two drive belts 23 and 24 which run around deflecting rollers 28 on the carrier 15 and allow the pushing device 12 to move back and forth. In each case one strand 25 of the two drive belts 23 and 24 is guided on the two guide rods 13 and 14 and connected to the ejecting elements 11 with the aid of carry-along elements 26.

[0019] A motor drive, which is not illustrated in the figures, is provided on the machine both for the carrier 15 and for the other moving parts.

[0020] A universal force-transmission means, for example, in the form of a cardan shaft or, in accordance with the illustration in the figures, in the form of a Schmidt coupling 27 makes it possible for the drive belts 23 and 24, which run around deflecting rollers 28 on the carrier 15, to execute brief movements back and forth in each case. 

1. A process for depositing products in a defined manner, from a compartment-containing chain (3), onto a receiving means or into a shaft (9), the compartment-containing chain (3) having laterally open compartments (7) which are formed by parallel intermediate walls (5) and are intended for accommodating laterally projecting products (1), wherein a pushing device (12), which intercepts a plurality of products (1), is moved out of a starting position parallel to the conveying chain (3) and, at the same time, in the pushing-out direction and then back into the starting position again.
 2. An apparatus for depositing products (1) in a defined manner, from a compartment-containing chain (3), onto a receiving means or into a shaft (9), the compartment-containing chain (3) having laterally open compartments (7) which are formed by parallel intermediate walls (5) and are intended for accommodating laterally projecting products (1), wherein a pushing device (12), which intercepts a plurality of products (1), can be moved out of a starting position parallel to the products (1) in the conveying chain (3) and, at the same time, in the pushing-out direction and then back into the starting position again.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, which comprises a carrier (15) which can be moved transversely to the movement direction of the compartment-containing chain (3) and has at least one ejecting element (11), which can be moved in the movement direction of the compartment-containing chain (3) and back.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claims 2 and 3, wherein the carrier (15) and the ejecting element or elements (11) can be moved along guide rods (13, 14 as well as 16 and 17).
 5. The apparatus as claimed in at least one of the preceding apparatus claims, wherein a connecting-rod drive (21) is provided for the lifting movement of the carrier (15).
 6. The apparatus as claimed in at least one of the preceding apparatus claims, wherein two parallel drive belts (23, 24) are provided for the ejecting elements (11).
 7. The apparatus as claimed in at least one of the preceding apparatus claims, wherein a motor drive is provided on the machine for the moving parts arranged on the carrier (15).
 8. The apparatus as claimed in at least one of the preceding apparatus claims, wherein the drive elements comprise a universal force-transmission means, or a cardan shaft and preferably a Schmidt coupling (27).
 9. The apparatus as claimed in at least one of the preceding apparatus claims, wherein the ejecting element or elements (11) projects/project laterally beyond the carrier (15).
 10. The apparatus as claimed in at least one of the preceding apparatus claims, wherein deflecting rollers (28) are provided on the carrier (15) for the drive belts (23, 24), which serve for moving the ejecting elements (11). 